Resources for honing Geospatial Analysis skills of Oceans

Hi, I am an Environmental Scientist for a larger engineering and design company in Colorado. I primarily work in GIS data analysis, cartography, and database management (Esri) with a focus in policy for the natural and cultural resources of Colorado.

My undergraduate degree is in marine biology with a focus in fisheries sustainability from a school in South Carolina. When I graduated, like many others (esp in 2020) I was unable to find a job due to lack of experience and a highly competitive job market. I pivoted, broadened my horizons, and got a Masters degree in Environmental Biology from a school in colorado, where I’m still located.

I love GIS, organizing messy datasets and improving geospatial workflows. I love the ocean. Everything about it. My current employer pays me well (higher than most env scientists in the industry, both a blessing and a curse) and I’ve been able to learn countless desirable skill sets like python, R, FME, policy, and technical writing.

As I mentioned above, my current employer is both a blessing and a curse. The work is fast-paced and at times stressful, but they pay me well, offer mostly good benefits, a stellar ESOP and a reasonable work-life balance… it’s a job that you stay at your whole career if possible. A real golden handcuffs situation as i accidentally stumbled upon this line of work. I had always pictured myself going back to ocean studies at some point… and now here i am 5 years after my masters still stuck at 9,000 feet of elevation. I miss the ocean.

I have one year left before I am fully vested, meaning i can leave with the money I’ve accumulated. A goal I’m really hoping to hit and is getting closer along the horizon.

While I wait to be vested, I want to start building some ocean specific analysis methods, hopefully with tech that I already use. I’d love to stay in the geospatial modelling discipline, but am open to really anything. Just trying to get some ideas where i might fit in within the industry :) TIA